Method of rolling rails



Oct. 12 1926. 1,602,968

, G. C. FARKELL METHOD OF ROLLING RAILS Filed May 19, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Iggy 7839203503.- lnzzeret'or:

Oct 12 1926.

./ 1,602,968 G. c. FARKciLL METHOD OF ROLLING RAILS Filed May 19. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i I 5 I a Witnesses milk):-

- fizoeazf2exazg him Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES I 1,602,968 PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE C. FARRELL, OF LORAIN, OHIO, ASSI GNOR TO NATIONAL TUBE COMPANY, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Application filed May 19,

This invention relates to methods of rolling T-shaped rails and has for its object the provision of a method of this class that will lengthen the life of the rolls, reduce the cost of manufacture, and above all produce a rail. having a better finished head surface.

I-Ieretofore when rolling T-shaped rails, the leader pass has been formed so that the one roll formed three sides of the pass. That is, the head is being worked in this pass and a collar, formed on the roll forming the three sides of the pass, bears against the face of the head of the rail. It has been found by practice that this collar wears very rapidly, due to the variations in the speed at different distances from the center of the. roll as compared with the rail. This variation in speed results in slippage of the roll on the rail, except on the one line which corresponds to the pitch of the roll. This slippage causes very rapid wear, which can only be remedied by frequent dressing of the rolls, and in order that the rolls may be able to roll a rail of a height within the allowed variations, very great reductions must be made on the roll at each dressing. Besides the above disadvantages, the uneven wear causes roughness of the roll surfaces which cause the formation of hook-shaped scratches on the top face of the rail heads, which are objectionable.

The present method consists in forming the leader pass in the upper and lower rolls with an open side for the rail head, and providing a third vertical roll adapted to enter the open side of the leader pass and work the top face of the rail head. Thus eliminat ing the collar on the horizontal roll which wears so quickly, and providing a leader pass in which the height of the rail can be maintained exactly the same by proper adjustment of the vertical roll independent ofthe previous wear of the rolls. 'Also this method produces rails that are entirely free of the fish-hook scratches, due to the fact that every part of the surface of the vertical roll travels with the same speed as the rail going through the pass.

It will readily be seen that the lives of the leader pass and finishing pass are both materially increased by carrying out this method, since the excessive wear on the leader pass is eliminated, and since it is no longer necessary to reduce the finishing pass to 1922. Serial No. 562,100.

for the vertical roll, the upper roll being removed for clearness.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numerals 2 and 3 designate the lower and upper rolls, respectively, of the finishing stand of rolls used in carrying out this invention. The rolls 2 and 3 are arranged to revolve in the usual manner. That is, in alternately reverse directions, for instance, the lower roll 2 turning upward, and the upper roll 3 turning downward.

The finishing stand of rolls is. provided with four passages, 5, 6, 7 and 8, respectively. The passes 5 and 6 are preliminary passes of the usual design in which the rail is worked all around, and the passes 7 and 8 are the leader and finishing passes, respectively.

In making T-shaped rails it is the practice to work the metal in the head of the rail so as to form a smooth surface, and then to only slightly work or true up and straighten the rail in the finishing pass.

Heretofore, as has been pointed out in the forepart of the specification, the leader pass was a closed pass. That is, the one roll formed three sides of the pass, and the collar on this roll, which worked the head, was found to wear very quickly, which entailed much expense to correct.

In this invention the leader pass 7 is formed at the end of the stand of rolls, and is an open pass. That is, it is formed with the head portion of the pass open to expose the top surface of the rail head. An auxiliary head roll 9 is ournaled in a bearing block 10 and is adapted to enter the open side of the pass 7 and work the top surface of the rail head. The bearing block 10 is secured in a suitable frame 11, which is mounted in the window of the roll housing 12 (shown in Figure 2). The frame 11 is adjustable to and from the rolls 2 and 3 by bolts 13 and set screws 14. It will be readily understood that by loosening the set screws 14 and tightening up the nuts on the bolts 13, the frame 11, hearing block 10 and roll 9 may be adjusted or moved toward the rolls 2 and 3 to compensate for any wear.

The roll 9 is journaled on a vertical axis and is provided with a suitable peripheral surface so that it Will shape the surface on the top of the rail head.

It will be readily seen that by forming the top surface of the rail head With the auxiliary roll 9, the height of the rail can be maintained exactly the same by adjusting the roll 9 to compensate for any wear, the rough head surface produced by Worn leader passes is eliminated since the roll 9 does not wear uneven because every part of its rolling surface travels with the same speed as the piece going through the pass. By eliminating the rough head surface heretofore produced by the leader pass, the life of this pass and also the finishing pass is greatly increased, since the finishing pass has heretofore been unnecessarily reduced to clean up the rails from the roughened leader pass.

It will, of course, be understood that this invention is applicable to the leader pass of any system of rolling Whether the leader pass is located in the finishing stand of rolls or otherwise, the invention being in providing the novel step of working the head of the rail by a vertical roll in the leader pass.

I claim 1. In the rolling of Ta'a'ils, the method consisting of shaping the rail in a plurality of fixed closed passes, then working the rail to a sul'istantial finish in a leader pass formed by two parallel horizontal rolls en gaging the side faces of the rail, and a third vertical idler roll bearing against the top face of the rail head, whereby the head of the rail is formed with a smooth surface, since the vertical idler roll travels with the same speed as the top face of the rail head, and finally finishing the rail in a fixed closed finishing pass.

2. In the rolling of T-rails, the method including the following steps first shaping the rail in a plurality of fixed passes of usual design, then Working the rail to a substantial finish in a leader pass formed by two parallel horizontal rolls engaging the side faces of the rail, and a third vertical idler roll bearing against the top face of the rail head, whereby the head of the rail is formed with a smooth surface, since the vertical idler roll travels with the same speed as the top face of the rail head, and finally finishing the rail in a fixed finishing pass of usual design.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

GEORGE C. FARKELL. 

